A simple spray coating process can be utilized to create epoxy/HNT nanocomposites with vertically aligned nanotubes. Important mechanical properties such as modulus and hardness values can be optimized and enhanced by controlling the level of nanotube dispersion during processing and the final orientation of the nanotubes. Thus, a technologically relevant processing scheme can be used to fabricate HNT nanocomposites with a high level of control over nanotube alignment and the resulting mechanical properties.

A system and method for additive manufacturing of three-dimensional structures, including three-dimensional cellular structures, are provided. The system comprises at least one print head for receiving and dispensing materials, the materials comprising a sheath fluid and a hydrogel, the print head comprising an orifice for dispensing the materials, microfluidic channels for receiving and directing the materials, fluidic switches corresponding to one of the microfluidic channels in the print head and configured to allow or disallow fluid flow in the microfluidic channels; a receiving surface for receiving a first layer of the materials dispensed from the orifice; a positioning unit for positioning the orifice of the print head in three dimensional space; and a dispensing means for dispensing the materials from the orifice of the print head.

A system and method for additive manufacturing of three-dimensional structures, including three-dimensional cellular structures, are provided. The system comprises at least one print head for receiving and dispensing materials, the materials comprising a sheath fluid and a hydrogel, the print head comprising an orifice for dispensing the materials, microfluidic channels for receiving and directing the materials, fluidic switches corresponding to one of the microfluidic channels in the print head and configured to allow or disallow fluid flow in the microfluidic channels; a receiving surface for receiving a first layer of the materials dispensed from the orifice; a positioning unit for positioning the orifice of the print head in three dimensional space; and a dispensing means for dispensing the materials from the orifice of the print head.

In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method for producing a drive belt, in particular a toothed belt, having a belt body composed of elastic material and a tension member with tensile strands composed of carbon cord. In this case, these carbon cords, in the form of twisted carbon cords, are soaked with a liquid isocyanate solution before they are used as tension members for the drive belts. In a further aspect, a drive belt which can be obtained in this way is provided. This drive belt is in particular a high performance belt, such as a high performance toothed belt, having improved belt running times and adhesion properties of the carbon cord to the belt body.

Multi-body interpenetrating lattices comprise two or more lattices that interlace or interpenetrate through the same volume without any direct physical connection to each other, wherein energy transfer is controlled by surface interactions. As a result, multifunctional or composite-like responses can be achieved by additive manufacturing of the interpenetrating lattices, even with only a single print material, with programmable interface-dominated properties. As a result, the interpenetrating lattices can have unique mechanical properties, including improved toughness, multi-stable/negative stiffness, and electromechanical coupling.

A duct stringer is disclosed including a structural member with a hat-shaped cross-section. The structural member has a crown, a pair of webs and a pair of feet. A channel member with a U-shaped cross-section has a base and a pair of flanges. The flanges of the channel member are co-cured to opposed inner faces of the webs of the structural member. The structural member and the channel member together provide a duct with a closed cross-section which is adapted to transport fluid, for instance in an aircraft wing to provide a vent function in an aircraft fuel system.

A method and apparatus for processing fuselage sections. The apparatus comprises a cradle system, a metrology system, and a controller. The cradle system holds a first fuselage section and applies forces to the first fuselage section to change a current shape of the first fuselage section. The metrology system makes measurements of the current shape of the first fuselage section. The controller receives the measurements from the metrology system, identifies the forces needed to change the current shape of the first fuselage section towards a desired shape for connecting the first fuselage section to a second fuselage section, and sends commands to the cradle system to apply the forces to change the current shape of the first fuselage section towards the desired shape.

A panel assembly with a panel and a stringer is disclosed. The stringer has a stringer foot and an upstanding stringer web. The stringer foot has a flange which extends in a widthwise direction between the stringer web and a lateral edge and in a lengthwise direction alongside the stringer web, and a foot run-out which extends between the flange and a tip of the stringer foot. The foot run-out is bonded to the panel at a foot run-out interface. Reinforcement elements, such as tufts, pass through the foot run-out interface into the panel. The reinforcement elements are distributed across the foot run-out interface in a series of rows including an end row nearest to the tip of the stringer foot and further rows spaced progressively further from the tip of the stringer foot. At least the end row has three or more of the reinforcement elements which are distributed along a polygonal curve.

A panel assembly with a panel and a stringer is disclosed. The stringer has a stringer foot and an upstanding stringer web. The stringer foot has a flange which extends in a widthwise direction between the stringer web and a lateral edge and in a lengthwise direction alongside the stringer web, and a foot run-out which extends between the flange and a tip of the stringer foot. The foot run-out is bonded to the panel at a foot run-out interface. Reinforcement elements, such as tufts, pass through the foot run-out interface into the panel. The reinforcement elements are distributed across the foot run-out interface in a series of rows including an end row nearest to the tip of the stringer foot and further rows spaced progressively further from the tip of the stringer foot. At least the end row has three or more of the reinforcement elements which are distributed along a polygonal curve.

A process for preparing a composite part, the process comprising: recovering unsaturated resin prepreg scrap; combining the recovered unsaturated resin prepreg scrap with a second resinous thermosetting component; and co-molding the prepreg scrap and resinous thermosetting component together under a pressure of 25 to 4000 psi and at a temperature of 100-400° F.